Archive for the 'Knee Cartilage' Tag Under 'Lakers' Category

LOS ANGELES -- It's not unusual to see the Lakers practice sans Kobe Bryant. It's pretty much been protocal for the past three seasons because the Lakers star's knee problems.

After having his right knee drained during last season's playoffs, Bryant had surgery on his knee -- his third -- during the summer to repair some of the wear and tear cause by 14 NBA seasons. Not participating in scrimmages and full drills was seen by the coaching staff as a way to save Bryant's knees and energy.

"He manages it really well," Phil Jackson said before Friday's game. "He has the ability to do that. It was an issue last year and then he had the operation in the summer. Now he's come back in a way that is most appropriate. He's stronger and started to practice some and that helps."

Bryant has been showing up at practice more often ever since the Lakers lost to Miami on Christmas Day. Following the embarrassing loss, Bryant said he was going to get his team focused and "beat it into their heads" during practice.

Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, however, took exception to Bryant's lack of practicing, insinuated there is a conspiracy to keep that information quiet, and asked the five-time NBA champion why he sits while his teammates go through drills.

EL SEGUNDO -- Phil Jackson is hopeful he might see Andrew Bynum's season debut sooner than Bynum suggests, perhaps after just two weeks of the regular season.

Jackson said Sunday that Bynum might miss "two-three weeks." Regarding Bynum's statement Saturday expecting a debut at the end of November, Jackson said: "Yeah, we don't know about that, but we'll see."

Bynum is recovering from July 28 surgery to reattach a piece of cartilage in his right knee.

The Lakers didn't escape the first morning practice of the season without an injury. Steve Blake suffered a mild left ankle sprain after Jackson said Sasha Vujacic gave Blake an extra shove at the end of a competitive drill.